Peru 2011 corn output seen at 1.86mn tonnes

LIMA: Following are selected highlights from a report issued by a US Department of Agriculture attache in Peru:

"Corn production in Peru is forecast at 1.86 million tonnes for MY 2011 (October/September), a significant increase from the 1.49 million tonnes produced in MY 2010. Peru imported 1.9 million tonnes of yellow corn in CY 2011. US corn exports to Peru dropped significantly from 626,428 tonnes in CY 2010 to only 63,130 tonnes in CY 2011 as a result of Peru's unilateral elimination of import duties, causing the United States to lose the trade preference granted under the US - Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.

Peruvian wheat imports in CY 2011 totaled 1.68 million tonnes. US wheat exports to Peru in CY 2011 reached an all time record of 943,000 tonnes, accounting for 56 percent of the market share."